A Canadian soldier on patrol in Bazar-e-Panjwaii, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2006. (Bill Graveland/Canadian Press)
In Depth
Afghanistan
Poll: What Afghans think
Environics poll in partnership with the CBC
Last Updated October 2007
CBC News
In September 2007 Canadian polling company Environics teamed with partners including the CBC to ask Afghan citizens living in Afghanistan what they thought about the state of affairs in their country.
Questions ranged from personal security, the role and comfort level with foreign troops, views on terrorist tactics, to their outlook for the future.
Because Canadian troops are stationed in Kandahar province, special questions about Canada's role were asked to people living in that region of Afghanistan.
The complete poll results show that the Afghan people are generally supportive of their national government, generally supportive of the role foreign troops are playing and generally optimistic about the future of their country. Nationally, 79 per cent (81 per cent in Kandahar) think things generally are going in the right direction.
In Kandahar:
- One in three people believes that the Taliban would return if foreign troops pulled out before the army and police were better trained.
- 85 per cent believe the government should negotiate with the Taliban to reduce conflict, and 72 per cent believe a coalition government with the Taliban would be acceptible.
- One in three people believes suicide bombing is sometimes justified.
Here is a breakdown of many results, featuring the most common answers across the country and spotlighting the most common answers in Kandahar province.
General issues
- Is Afghanistan going in the right direction?
- Is Afghanistan going in the wrong direction?
- Are Afghan women better off, worse off or the same as they were in 2002?
- Are you personally better off, worse off or the same as they were in 2002?
Afghan government
- Does the Karzai government represent your interests?
- If you said no, why do you feel the Karzai government does not represent your interests?
Canadian mission
- Are you aware Canada has troops in Kandahar?
- Do you know what the objectives are of Canadians' presence?
- What is your overall opinion of Canadian troops?
- Why do you have a positive opinion of Canadian troops?
- Why do you have a negative opinion of Canadian troops?
- What has been your experience with Canadians?
- How was the experience?
Future of international mission
- What do you think the outcome of the international mission is most likely?
- If you think the Aghan government, with foreign assitance, will defeat the Taliban, why do you say that?
- If you believe the Taliban will prevail, why do you say that?
The opposition
- What's your overall opinion of the Taliban?
- Is the use of kidnapping justified?
- Is the use of suicide bombing justified?
- Would you support or oppose negotiations between the Karzai government and the Taliban?
- Would you support or oppose the idea of a coalition government?
General issues
| Generally speaking, do you think things in Afghanistan today are going in the right direction? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Good security/feeling safer | 17 | 15 |
| Reconstruction/rebuilding | 15 | 38 |
| Disarmament | 10 | 6 |
| Schools for girls have opened | 10 | 2 |
| Peace/end of war | 8 | 8 |
| Freedom/Free speech | 7 | 10 |
| Democracy/elections/Constitution | 7 | 2 |
| Economic revival/more jobs | 4 | 2 |
| Women have more freedom | 4 | 1 |
| Women can now work | 4 | 3 |
| Refugees return | 4 | 1 |
| Good government | 4 | 8 |
| Free movement/travel possible | 3 | - |
| International assistance | 3 | 3 |
| Freedom of press | - | - |
| Other | - | - |
| Don't know/No Answer | - | - |
| Generally speaking, do you think things in Afghanistan today are going in the wrong direction? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Lack of security/do not feel safe | 20 | 34 |
| Bad economy | 14 | 13 |
| Bad economy/lack of jobs | 11 | 4 |
| No progress | 8 | 6 |
| Corruption in government | 7 | 12 |
| Presence of too many Taliban | 5 | 4 |
| Poor education system | 4 | 2 |
| There is danger to Islam | 4 | 5 |
| Bad government/lack of faith in government | 4 | 4 |
| No reconstruction has happened/not happening fast enough | 3 | 4 |
| Too many foreigners in country | 3 | 1 |
| Foreign troops/military causes problems | 3 | 2 |
| Western influence is too great | 3 | 3 |
| Neighbouring countries cause problems | 3 | 1 |
| Work is not given to relevant people | 3 | 3 |
| Lack of aid/no development assistance | 1 | 1 |
| Foreign aid causes problems | - | 2 |
| Other | 2 | 1 |
| Don't know/No Answer | - | - |
| Do you believe that women in Afghanistan today are better off, worse off, or about the same as they were five years ago, in 2002? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Better off | 73 | 70 |
| About the same | 15 | 13 |
| Worse off | 10 | 15 |
| Don't know/No Answer | 2 | 1 |
| Thinking about your own present situation, would you say you personally are better off, worse off, or about the same as you were in 2002? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Better off | 60 | 61 |
| About the same | 26 | 15 |
| Worse off | 14 | 24 |
| Don't know/No Answer | - | - |
Afghan government
| Do you believe the Karzai government represents your interests as an Afghan? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Yes | 59 | 75 |
| No | 32 | 23 |
| Don't know/No Answer | 9 | 2 |
| If you answered 'no' to the above question, why? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Unemployment | 17 | 7 |
| Corruption in the government | 16 | 3 |
| Insecurity | 15 | 34 |
| Lack of reconstruction | 13 | 7 |
| Lack of international assistance to the government | 10 | 8 |
| Foreigners have too much influence | 9 | 34 |
| Lack of attention to government employees | 4 | - |
| High prices | 2 | - |
| Lack of attention to returnees | 2 | - |
| Violation of women's rights | 2 | 0 |
| Refused | 1 | - |
| Don't know/No Answer | 8 | 7 |
Canadian mission
| Are you aware that Canada currently has troops in Kandahar province? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Yes | 60 |
| No | 29 |
| Don't know/No Answer | 10 |
| From what you know or have heard, what is the main purpose or objectives of the Canadians' presence in Kandahar? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Fight the Taliban/Fight others | 47 |
| Reconstruction/rebuild schools/hospitals/etc. | 16 |
| Support the Karzai government | 10 |
| Train Afghan army | 5 |
| Train Afghan police | 2 |
| Other | 3 |
| Don't know/No answer | 17 |
| What is your overall opinion of the Canadian troops in Kandahar province? Is it: | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Very positive | 26 |
| Somewhat positive | 34 |
| Somewhat negative | 14 |
| Very negative | 5 |
| Neither positive/negative | 4 |
| Don't know/No answer | 17 |
| Why do you have a positive opinion of Canadian troops in Kandahar province? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Establishing security | 40 |
| Reconstruction of clinics and schools | 36 |
| Training army and police | 6 |
| Removing Taliban | 3 |
| Helping people | 3 |
| Helping to remove poppy cultivation | 1 |
| Don't know/No answer | 10 |
| Why do you have a negative opinion of Canadian troops in Kandahar? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Killing innocent people | 45 |
| Searching houses without permission | 24 |
| They are infidels | 10 |
| Don't know/No answer | 20 |
| Do you think that overall, the Canadians are doing a better or worse job than foreigners from other countries? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Canadians doing better job | 48 |
| No difference | 22 |
| Canadians doing worse job | 12 |
| Don't know/No answer | 17 |
| If you had any direct experience with Canadians in the past 12 months, what type of experience was this? | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Military passed through village/neighbourhood | 40 |
| Met aid workers | 31 |
| Met military/soldiers | 9 |
| Other | 9 |
| Don't know/No Answer | 11 |
| Would you say this experience with Canadians was: | |
|---|---|
| Kandahar province (%) | |
| Very positive | - |
| Somewhat positive | 46 |
| Neither positive/negative | 3 |
| Somewhat negative | 26 |
| Very negative | 9 |
| Don't know/No answer | 17 |
Future of international mission
| Much of the foreign effort has been to support the Afghan government's fight to secure the country from the Taliban. Which outcome do you believe is most likely? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| The Afghan government, with foreign assistance, will defeat the Taliban | 40 | 45 |
| Too early to say | 29 | 32 |
| The Taliban will prevail in the end once the foreign troops leave the country | 19 | 16 |
| Don't know/No answer | 11 | 6 |
| Why do you say that the Afghan government, with foreign assistance, will defeat the Taliban? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Because foreign aid helps the government | 43 | 35 |
| Because foreign aid helps the army/police | 22 | 25 |
| Foreign troops have advanced military technology | 18 | 25 |
| Because people are against the Taliban | 10 | 1 |
| Refused | - | - |
| Don't know/No answer | 7 | 14 |
| Why do you say the Taliban will prevail in the end once the foreign troops leave the country? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| The army and police are not strong enough | 11 | 31 |
| People support Taliban | 5 | 12 |
| Increase in the number of Taliban | 4 | 17 |
| Pakistan supports Taliban | 4 | - |
| The government economy is weak | 2 | - |
| U.S. support Taliban | 2 | - |
| Presence of warlords | 1 | - |
| Don't know/No answer | 71 | 40 |
The opposition
| What is your overall opinion of the Taliban? Is it: | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Very positive | 3 | 3 |
| Somewhat positive | 11 | 17 |
| Somewhat negative | 20 | 20 |
| Very negative | 53 | 47 |
| Neither positive/negative | 10 | 9 |
| Don't know/No answer | 2 | 5 |
| The forces opposed to the Afghan government and foreign troops are currently using such tactics as suicide bombings and kidnapping. Do you think the use of kidnapping is justified all of the time, justified some of the time, justified only rarely, or never justified? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Justified all of the time | 3 | 1 |
| Justified some of the time | 10 | 15 |
| Justified only rarely | 13 | 19 |
| Never justified | 72 | 59 |
| Don't know/No answer | 3 | 6 |
| The use of suicide bombings is justified all of the time, justified some of the time, justified only rarely, or never justified? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Justified all of the time | 3 | 1 |
| Justified some of the time | 9 | 13 |
| Justified only rarely | 14 | 21 |
| Never justified | 71 | 60 |
| Don't know/No answer | 3 | 5 |
| Would you support or oppose negotiations between the Karzai government and the Taliban to explore ways of reducing conflict in the country? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Strongly support | 36 | 36 |
| Somewhat support | 38 | 49 |
| Somewhat oppose | 9 | 11 |
| Strongly oppose | 9 | 2 |
| Depends | 6 | 2 |
| Don't know/No answer | 2 | - |
| Would you support or oppose the idea of a coalition government in which the Karzai government shares power with the Taliban? | ||
|---|---|---|
| National (%) | Kandahar province (%) | |
| Strongly support | 25 | 27 |
| Somewhat support | 29 | 45 |
| Somewhat oppose | 14 | 14 |
| Strongly oppose | 19 | 7 |
| Depends | 9 | 4 |
| Don't know/No answer | 4 | 2 |
Environics' Focus Afghanistan
2007 Survey of Afghans: Methodology
Field dates: Sept. 17-24, 2007
The survey was conducted for Environics and its media and academic partners by D3 Systems and the Afghan Centre for Social and Opinion Research (ASCOR). All survey participants were 18 years or older. The response rate was 85 per cent. The accuracy is considered to be 95 per cent.
Sample size:
Total 1,578 people surveyed (Margin of error +/- 2.5%)
Kandahar 260 people surveyed (Margin of error +/- 5.9%)
In the tables, a dash (-) means the result is less than 1 per cent. A zero (0) means nobody gave that as an answer.
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- Flight Lieut. Christopher Hasler, Distinguished Flying Cross, Q&A
- The controversy over detainees
- Is the country collapsing?
- Experts call for strategy rethink
- Atlantic Canada's role
- CBC-Environics public issues poll
- Canada in Afghanistan
- Timeline of Canada in Afghanistan
- Canada's casualties
- By the numbers
- Joint operations, Canada-U.S.
Full Text
- Government motion on Afghanistan
- February 2008
- Liberal motion on Afghanistan
- February 2008
- Revised government motion
- February 2008
Interactives
Photo galleries
- Soldiers and civilians in the 'new Afghanistan'
- Afghan patrols
- Mountain Thrust
- Afghan offensive
- Road to Martello
- Reporting from Kandahar
People and Places
- Hamid Karzai
- Kabul
- Kandahar
- Mazar e Sharif
- Soldier's diary: Sgt. Russell Storring
- Soldier's diary: Cpl. Brian D. Sanders
Issues
- Afghanistan: Heroin producer to the world
- Improvised Explosive Device
- The women of Afghanistan
- The Taliban
- Afghanistan: Still no peace
- Schools in Afghanistan
Viewpoint
- Bruce Edwards
- Afghan border: Pakistan's struggle with the Taliban
RELATED
External Links
- Rebuilding Afghanistan - Government of Canada
- Operation Athena
- NATO in Afghanistan
- CIA World Factbook, Afghanistan
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Quick Facts
Capital: Kabul
Area: 647,500 km sq. (same size as Manitoba)
Population: 28,513,000 (2004)
Head of State: Hamid Karzai
Unemployment: 78%
GDP (2003): $20 billion US (est.)
Exports to Canada (2003): $618,889
Imports from Canada (2003): $9 million
Median Age: 17.5
Life expectancy at birth: 42.46
Ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
(Source: CIA World Fact Book, Government of Canada)